Post by John on Aug 5, 2022 9:33:25 GMT
Streaming History
I was a early adopter of streaming. I started with a PC just using a USB cable and then tried a whole bunch of different software to get the best out of the medium. But everything I tried either was frustrating to use BugHead and Jplay or had more noise issues e.g. Jriver from the PC. I even went fanless pc
that had a LPS running it.
I also had the following streamers
SOTM Neo Ultra 200
Limetree Bridge
Allo based pi
Tinkerboard
Sonoe Micro Rendhu
None of these every sounded quite right and I think for the SOTM. Limetree and Sonoe it was my Ethernet acting as a bottle neck. I was using a lan isolator and a Melcprd they all helped but just not enough.
For the last year I have moved to Bluetooth It did not have any edge but it is not the last word in detail.
The IFi Zen Stream
Design
It uses a Chinese board similar to the pi with the company paying close attention to limiting internal noise. The box looks a bit like a 70s robot, either love or hate. In my case I hide the design in my set up. It has Coaxial and USB outputs and a internet port as well as Wifi I have chosen to connect via wifi due to the issues I have had with sound from my Etnernet setup. Software is based on Volumio which I still find a clunky GUI. Using Bubble is a lot more intuitive and friendly. It has Spotify and Tidal connect and can accept third party apps like Jriver and Bubble.
Set Up
The Stream has its own app that guide you through the setup. In my case I had issues with pairing it to WiFi as I could not locate the Zen Stream in my network. Once I did it was a easy to set up.
Sound
It took a while for me to get happy with the sound. Initially I could hear some edge and only solved this by running a couple of grounding cables to my RTZ. A word of warning using the long Aucharm was a backwards step it took away some of the resolution for the Zen stream whilst the RTZ dose not take away resolution.
Once set up I am hearing more resolution than I am used. The system just slams more. The treble is a now controlled and just plays music without adding any nasties that I can detect.
Pros
Cost
Sound Quality: It is performing well above it's price point.
Cons
The Design
Set up was not straight forward
GUI is basic and could be friendly/interactive.
Bottom line
For me not a end game streamer but offers good value if sound quality is ultimate goal. However it took me time to get the sound to where I wanted.
I do not see as an end game streamer for me as would like a better case and GUI. But it will keep me happy for a while.
I was a early adopter of streaming. I started with a PC just using a USB cable and then tried a whole bunch of different software to get the best out of the medium. But everything I tried either was frustrating to use BugHead and Jplay or had more noise issues e.g. Jriver from the PC. I even went fanless pc
that had a LPS running it.
I also had the following streamers
SOTM Neo Ultra 200
Limetree Bridge
Allo based pi
Tinkerboard
Sonoe Micro Rendhu
None of these every sounded quite right and I think for the SOTM. Limetree and Sonoe it was my Ethernet acting as a bottle neck. I was using a lan isolator and a Melcprd they all helped but just not enough.
For the last year I have moved to Bluetooth It did not have any edge but it is not the last word in detail.
The IFi Zen Stream
Design
It uses a Chinese board similar to the pi with the company paying close attention to limiting internal noise. The box looks a bit like a 70s robot, either love or hate. In my case I hide the design in my set up. It has Coaxial and USB outputs and a internet port as well as Wifi I have chosen to connect via wifi due to the issues I have had with sound from my Etnernet setup. Software is based on Volumio which I still find a clunky GUI. Using Bubble is a lot more intuitive and friendly. It has Spotify and Tidal connect and can accept third party apps like Jriver and Bubble.
Set Up
The Stream has its own app that guide you through the setup. In my case I had issues with pairing it to WiFi as I could not locate the Zen Stream in my network. Once I did it was a easy to set up.
Sound
It took a while for me to get happy with the sound. Initially I could hear some edge and only solved this by running a couple of grounding cables to my RTZ. A word of warning using the long Aucharm was a backwards step it took away some of the resolution for the Zen stream whilst the RTZ dose not take away resolution.
Once set up I am hearing more resolution than I am used. The system just slams more. The treble is a now controlled and just plays music without adding any nasties that I can detect.
Pros
Cost
Sound Quality: It is performing well above it's price point.
Cons
The Design
Set up was not straight forward
GUI is basic and could be friendly/interactive.
Bottom line
For me not a end game streamer but offers good value if sound quality is ultimate goal. However it took me time to get the sound to where I wanted.
I do not see as an end game streamer for me as would like a better case and GUI. But it will keep me happy for a while.
📶NAS > Gustard x26p DAC > Benchmark LA4 Pre-Amp > NAD M22-V2 Amplifier > Revel F228Be Speakers
